Pressurized liquid dispensing device



July l, 1969 R. T. CORNELIUS 3,452,902

PRESSURIZED LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed July 13, 1966 Rn n By @r l I v! ,M ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,452,902 PRESSURIZED LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Richard T. Cornelius, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to The Cornelius Company, Anoka, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed July 13, 1966, Ser. No. 564,835 Int. Cl. B65d 83/14; F16k 31/365 U.S. Cl. 222-61 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE of the second stage, the second housing section supporting a pressurizing vessel, a sheet-like elastomeric member disposed between the rst and second housing sections and having laterally spaced diaphragm portions forming a part of said two stages, and the cover having external projections supporting tamper-resistant means which act on the outer side of the tank to removably retain the cover and the structure carried thereby.

This invention relates generally to a dispensing device construction, and more specifically to dispensing and pressurizing valve constructions secured to a cover of a pressurizable tank.

Although the principles of the present invention may be included in various dispensing devices, a particularly useful application is made in a pressurized home beer dispenser, such as one of the type that is typically stored in a domestic refrigerator.

In constructions of such type of device, it has been common heretofore to provide a tank with two openings, one of which carries dispensing structure, and the other of which carries pressurizing structure. Moreover, such constructions have employed a large amount of machining, and have rendered them expensive.

The present invention contemplates the utilization of a removable molded cover which, in a preferred embodiment, carries on one side a dispensing valve assembly and on the other side a tank pressurizing means, thereby obvi' ating any need for a second aperture in the tank.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid dispensing device of the pressurized type wherein pressurizing means are carried by the cover.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispensing device utilizing only one aperture in the liquid storage tank.

Another object of the present invention is to provide valve structure for a liquid dispensing device wherein all of the major housing components of the cover, the dispensing valve, and the regulator means comprises only three molded parts.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a home beer dispenser of the pressurized-tank type which can be manufactured for a somewhat lower cost than those which have been heretofore available.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheet of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

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On the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a home beer dispenser taken generally along the line I--I of FIG. 2, a lower portion being broken away to illustrate structural details in the background; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along the line II-II of FIG. 1.

As shown on the drawings:

The principles of this invention are particularly useful when embodied in a liquid dispensing device, such as a home beer dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1, generally indicated by the numeral 10. The dispensing device 10 includes a pressurizable tank 11 which has an aperture 12 at one end thereof, the aperture 12 comprising the sole opening in the preferred embodiment illustrated. The aperture 12 is closed by a molded cover 13 which, like the aperture 12, is of oval configuration so that the same may be readily installed on the inside of the tank 11 at the aperture 12. An O-ring 14 forms a pressure-tight seal therebetween. The cover 13 carries a dispensing valve assembly generally indicated by the numeral 15 on its front or outer side, and carries tank pressurizing means generally indicated by the numeral 16 on its inner or rear side.

The dispensing valve assembly 15 includes an inlet housing 17 and an outlet housing 18 secured together, between which there is disposed a main valve 19 carried on a lever 20, the lever 20 being biased in a valve-closing direction by means of a spring 21. To open the valve 19, a valve actuator 22 pivoted on the inlet and outlet housings 17, 18, has an upper portion 23 which is engageable with the lever 20 to rock the valve 19 about a seal 24, against the force of the spring 21. In this construction, the inlet housing 17 is molded as an integral part of the outside or outer surface of the cover 13, and an inlet passage is provided by a tube 25, the lower end of which is immersed in the liquid to be dispensed, the upper end of the tube 25 leading to a valve cavity 26 within which the valve 19 is located.

The tank pressurizing means 16 pressurizes the uid to force it upwardly through the tube 25 to ow outwardly through the spout housing 18 under the control of the valve 19. Where the liquid to be dispensed is beer, the pressurizing medium that is used is carbon dioxide gas, which serves the further function of maintaining the level of carbonation of the beer. In order to be certain that the level of carbonation does not decrease from that provided at the brewery, it is necessary that the amount of pressurization of carbon dioxide gas be such as to at least equal the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide gas dissolved inthe beer. To do this, a degree of significant pressurization with a proper amount of accuracy in pressurizatiion is needed. In the event that the pressurization should be below the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide gas dissolved in the beer, the beer will tend to lose some of its carbonation and hence tendto go slightly lian In the event that the pressure is higher than the partial pressure of the dissolved carbon dioxide gas, the beer will tend to absorb carbon dioxide gas, and not only be over-carbonated (which affects its taste) but even worse, there is a possibility that when an attempt is made to draw beer by actuating the valve 15, most if not all of the discharged product will constitute foam. Therefore, the tank pressurizing means 16 is constructed in a manner so as to provide a good degree of precision in performance.

The tank pressurizing means 16 includes pressure regulating means generally indicated at 27 in FIG. 2, and a pressure vessel 28. The pressure regulator means 27 includes a first housing section 29 molded as an integral part of the inside of the cover 13. The pressure regulator means 27 further includes a second housing section 30 which is also molded. In this embodiment, the pressure regulator means 27 is of the two-stage type, and thus is a two-stage regulator having a first stage generally indicated at 31 and a second stage generally indicated by the numeral 32.

The first stage 31 includes a reference pressure chamber 33 molded in the cover 13, there being a pair of vent passages 34 from the reference pressure chamber leading outwardly toward the atmosphere. In like manner, the second stage regulator 32 includes a reference pressure chamber 35 which is also vented to the atmosphere by a number of vent passages 34.

A sheet-like elastomeric member 36 abuts all the confronting faces or sides on the rst housing section 29 and on the second housing section 30. Centrally disposed within the sheet-like member 36, there are a pair of diaphragm portions 37, 38 which seal one side of the reference chambers 33, 35.

Pressurized carbon dioxide gas is stored in and provided by the pressure vessel 28 which is disposed inside the tank 11. vIn order to fill the pressure vessel 28 with gas, there is provided a gas filling passage 39 which extends through the cover 13 and into the second housing section 30` and which communicates with the interior of the pressure vessel 28, all as best seen in FIG. l. The cover 13 is provided with a small filling aperture 40 which communiactes with a somewhat larger recess within which there is disposed a protective cap 41 of rubber, and an insert 42. The insert is sealed at its outer periphery against any leakage therealong, and is generally tubular and is internally threaded and receives a valve core assembly of the automotive tire-type 43, shown somewhat schematically. To fill the device with pressurized gas, a hollow needle is caused to enter the opening and to puncture the protective cap 41, and to depress the stem of the valve core 43. Gas is thus admitted to the pressure vessel 28.

The pressure vessel 28 comprises a stainless steel container having an internally threaded boss 44 which is received onto a tubular threaded projection 45 on the housing section 30. A further O-ring seal 46 is provided to prevent leakage along the threads. Further, a washerlike gasket 47 is provided between the end of the pressure vessel 28 and the housing 30 to prevent any entry of beer or other liquid at such seam, crack, or point. Gas from the pressure vessel 28 then rises in an inlet passage 48 (FIG. 1), the inlet passage 48 leading at its upper end, as shown in FIG. 2, to the high-pressure side of a. further valve core assembly 49 of the automotive type disposed in the housing 30. The stem of the valve core assembly 49 is disposed against the diaphragm portion 37 and reaches into a regulating chamber 50 which has an outlet which communicates by means of a connecting passage 51 to the inlet 52 of the second stage, at which there is disposed a still further valve core assembly 53 of the automotive type, which has a stem that engages the diaphragm portion 38 for admitting gas to a regulating chamber 54. The regulating chamber 54 communicates upwardly (toward the viewer in FIG. 2) to a bladder type relief valve 55 (FIG. l which has a split end 56 that separates when the internal pressure is higher. The check valve 55 discharges gas directly into the interior of the tank 11, and if such check valve be submersed below the upper level of the liquid, such valve prevents reverse ilow of liquid toward the pressurizing means 16.

The outer periphery of the sheet-like elastomeric member 36 seals all the peripheries of the confronting sides of the housing sections 29 and 30 so that liquid cannot enter any portion thereof.

In the event that the pressure on the interior of the tank should become excessive, protection is provided by means of a blow-out plug 57 (FIG. 2) which is disposed in a relief passage 58 in the cover 13. The blow-out plug 57 is exposed to the pressurized liquid on the inside of the cover, and to the atmosphere on the outside of the cover 13.

In order to hold the cover 13 in position on the tank 11, the cover 13 has a pair of outwardly extending projections 59, 59 which are disposed adjacent to the edge of the tank aperture, the projections having openings. Within these openings there is disposed tamper-resistant means for coacting between such projections 59 and the adjacent outer side of the tank 11 to retain the cover therein. At the left portion of FIG. 2, there is shown a plunger 46l) which has a friction ring 61. The plunger 60 can be forced to the right to release the structure, and by forcing it to the left, the structure is locked in position as shown. In the absence of any internal pressure in the tank 11, the pin 60 slightly compresses the O-ring 14 to insure a seal when pressure is applied. Another form of structure is shown at the right side of FIG. 2 wherein a bushing 61a is molded into the projection, and a ball 62 is trapped in a socket-like portion of the bushing 61 for acting against the outside of the tank 11. To install the ball, the cover is first placed into position and then drawn tightly against the O-ring 14 to compress it, at which time the ball is inserted and the cover then allowed to be released, and when released, the O-ring still is slightly compressed.

Each of the reference pressure chambers 33, 35 is provided with a check valve assembly 63. The check valve assembly 63 includes a stem having a anged shoulder that extends through an opening in the cover, adjacent to the openings 34 which vent the reference pressure chamber. The outer portion of the check valve assembly 63 is a flap-like disk portion having downwardly turned peripheral edges. When the structure is inserted, it is manually pressed to the point where the anged stem becomes trapped as shown. However, the anged portions draw the stem outwardly, and the interior flange abuts the cover while the external flange is still slightly compressed. With this arrangement, there is a tendency to trap atmospheric pressure in the reference chamber. Any variation from whatever pressure is trapped there, between that pressure and actual atmospheric pressure, is of no consequence. However, the check valve assembly 63 serves to keep moisture and dirt out of the reference pressure chamber 33, even during washing of the assembly.

Within the reference chambers 33, 35 there are also provided integral means for limiting the movement of the diaphragm. In the embodiment shown, this means comprises a post 64 disposed within a biasing spring 65 that biases the diaphragm of the first stage, and a post 66 disposed within a spring 67 that biases the diaphragm of the second stage. Suitable backing means are also provided which abut the posts 64, 66. In the event that either diaphragm portion should rupture, the check valve 63 will readily open to permit the escape of gas.

The tank 11 is rst lled with carbonated beverage, after which the pressure vessel 28 is charged with carbon dioxide gas through the gas lling valve 43 and the gas lling passage 39. Gas pressure ows upwardly through the inlet passage 48 and is admitted through the rst stage valve 49 to the regulating chamber 50, the valve 49 being then held in an open position by the spring 65 acting through the diaphragm portion 37. The gas then passes through the connecting passage 51 and through the open second stage valve 53 which is held open by the spring 67 acting through the diaphragm portion 38. The gas then escapes upwardly through the latter type relief valve 56 to build up a pressure Within the tank 11. As that pressure gradually builds up, a higher pressure develops in the regulating chamber 54 to compress the spring 67, thereby electing closing of the second-stage valve 53. Thereupon, pressure builds up in the connecting passage 51 and regulating chamber 50 so that the spring is compressed, until the valve 49 is closed. When beer is withdrawn through the dispensing valve 15, there will result a slight lowering of the pressure in the tank 1l, which is restored in the manner described. The apparatus described will maintain a selected pressure that is built into the parameters of the device, and in particular into the spring forces. By use of a 2-stage regulator, the pressure will remain constant within the tank 11, within a range of 1/2 p.s.i., whereas if a single-stage regulator were used of comparable size, a pressure differential or variation of at least 3 p.s.i. would be expected. Such narrow differential accurately maintains the proper dispensing pressure without setting up conditions by which the beer may flat or go wild.

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody Within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A liquid dispensing device, comprising in combination:

(a) a pressurizable tank for the liquid having an aperture;

(b) a molded cover removably secured to said tank at said aperture and having a pressure seal therewith; and

(c) a dispensing valve assembly having a housing consisting of two rigid sections between which there is disposed a valve element, one of said sections providing an inlet for the valve assembly and being an integrally molded portion of the outside of said cover and communicating through said cover to the interior of said tank, and the other of said sections being a separate element xedly secured to said one section and providing an outlet for the valve assembly.

2. A liquid dispensing device, comprising in combination:

(a) a pressurizable tank for the liquid, said tank having an aperture therein;

(b) a molded cover removably secured to said tank at said aperture and having a pressure seal therewith;

(c) a pressure vessel for storing a supply of pressurized gas; and

(d) pressure regulator means carried on the inside of said cover and supporting said pressure vessel, said pressure regulator means having two stages; each stage including an inlet, an outlet, and a regulator valve joining the inlet to the outlet; the inlet of the first stage communicating its said valve with said pressure vessel, a connecting passage communicating the outlet of the first stage with the inlet of the second stage, and the outlet of the second stage communicating its said valve with the interior of said tank.

3. A dispensing device according to claim 2, in which said molded cover has a relief passage therethrough remote from said regulator means to the interior of said tank, and a blow-out plug normally sealing said relief passage.

4. A liquid dispensing device according to claim 2, in which said pressure regulator means has a housing with one section thereof carried on said cover, and a second molded housing section secured to said one housing section, said second housing section having both of said inlets, both of said outlets, and said connecting passage, said second housing section supporting both of said valves and said pressure vessel.

5. A liquid dispensing device, comprising in combination:

(a) a pressurizable tank for the liquid, said tank having an aperture therein;

(b) a molded cover removably secured to said tank at said aperture and having a pressure seal therewith;

(c) a 2-stage pressure regulator having a first housing section molded integrally with the inside of said cover, and a second molded housing section secured to said first housing section;

(d) a sheet-like elastomeric member disposed between said first and second housing sections and sealing all peripheries of the sides of said housing sections which confront each other, said elastomeric meml0 ber having two laterally spaced centrally disposed diaphragm portions respectively forming a part of said two stages; and (e) a pressure vessel for storing a supply of pressurizing gas and supported by said second housing section and directly communicating fluidly with one stage of said pressure regulator. 6. A dispensing device according to claim 5, including means molded integrally with said first housing section for limiting movement of at least one of said diaphragm portions in response to fiuid pressure within said pressure regulator.

7. A dispensing device according to claim 5, in which at least one of said pressure regulator stages includes:

(a) a reference-pressure chamber defined by said irst housing section;

(b) a vent passage through only said cover for communicating said reference-pressure chamber with the atmosphere; and

(c) a check valve carired by said cover and normally closing said vent passage, and arranged to open in response to an increase in pressure in said referencepressure chamber.

8. A- dispensing device according to claim 7, in which said check valve includes resilient flap means closing the outer end of said vent passage.

9. A liquid dispensing device, comprising in combination:

(a) a pressurizable tank for the liquid, said tank having an aperture therein;

(b) a molded cover closing said aperture and having a pressure seal therewith, said cover having a pair of external projections each having an opening adjacent to the edge of said tank aperture;

(c) tamper-resistant means carried in such openings for acting between said projetcions and the outer side of said tank to removably retain said cover in said tank aperture;

(d) pressure regulator means carried on the inside of said cover and communicating fluidly with the interior of said tank; and

(e) a pressure vessel for storing a supply of pressurized gas and communicating liuidly with said pressure regulator means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 575,932 1/ 1897 Nageldinger 222-399 586,190 7/1897 Kruger 222-399 X 6 2,742,764 4/1956 Saint Clair 137-505.12

2,816,561 12/1957 Krueger 137-505.12

3,211,350 10/1965 Brown 222-399 3,245,583 4/1966 Miller et al. 222-52 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. HADD S. LANE, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

